Ionic Polymer-Metal Composite actuator behaviour in two novel configurations

IPMCs are one of the most promising smart actuators to replace traditional actuators for some specific applications particularly in the micro-nano scales. IPMC actuator's shape and configuration have a dramatic effect on the actuation parameters. While the behaviour of IPMCs as a single fixed end strip actuator (cantilever) has been widely studied since the early 80's, its behaviour in other configurations is relatively unknown. This paper presents work carried out in order to reconfigure these actuators for some new applications. The first configuration is when both ends of an IPMC actuator strip are fully constrained, in both the actuator plane and the normal direction. In this case the displacement and force measurements at the mid point of the strip are presented. The results of a series of experiments show the behaviour of the actuator in this configuration and using these results some models have been proposed. The second configuration is when only one end of the strip is fixed and the other end is constrained in the normal direction with respect to the plane of the actuator strip. A series of experiments were also carried out to explore the IPMC actuator behaviour in terms of maximum displacement and force generated in this configuration. The behaviour of the IPMC actuator in these two configurations is also investigated by studying the internal stresses in the IPMC structure.